1 



)*581 species. 



138 SCLATER ON THE GENERAL DISTRIBUTION OF AVES. 



The most recent summary of the Birds of Europe gives — 



1. Accipitres 57~\ 



2. Passeres 238 



3. Scansores 12 



4. Columbae 7 



5. Gallinfe 22 { 



6. Strutbiones .... 



7. Grails 101 



8. Anseres 144-^ 



It is very difficult to say what additions should be made to this 

 in order to give the approximate number of the birds of the whole 

 Palsearctic Region ; but a moderate calculation does not show more 

 than 650 species truly belonging to this fauna : for it must be re- 

 collected that the number 581 contains many birds of rare occur- 

 rence in Europe, and which must be correctly reckoned as belong- 

 ing to other divisions. As we have in the Pala^arctic .Region the 

 enormous land area of probably upwards of 14,000,000 square 

 miles, this will give us a species for each 21,000 square mil^, 

 speaking in round numbers ; and it consequently follows (as might 

 have been expected), that the Palasarctic is by far the least prolific 

 region of ornithic life on the globe. According to my ideas, there- 

 fore, the statement in Johnston's ' Physical Atlas,' that " Europe 

 possesses more species than any other zoological province" is exactly 

 contrary to the fact. 



II. ^Ethiopian or "Western Pal^otropical Region 

 (Pegio JEthiopica) . 



Extent. — Africa, south of the Atlas range, Madagascar, Bourbon, 

 Mauritius, Socotra and probably Arabia up to the Persian Gulf, 

 south of 30° N. 1. ; an approximate area of 12,000,000 square miles. 



Characteristic forms. — G-ypogeranus, PLelotarsus, Polyboroides, 

 Gypohierax, Melierax, JSIacrodipteryx , Irrisor, Eregihtpus, Bucor- 

 vus, Apaloclerma, Parisoma, Macronyx, Lioptilus, Sericolnis, Ma- 

 laconotus, Laniarius, Ghaunonotus, Prionops, Sigmodus, Phyllas- 

 trephus, Lanioturdus, Vidua, Juida, Buphaga, Yerreauxia, Lcemo- 

 don, Indicator, JSLusophaga, Colius, Pyocephalus, Numida, Phasidus, 

 Struthio, Balceniceps, Scojjus. 



(Madagascar). Euryceros, Falculia, Oriolia, Philip>itta, Bra- 

 chypteracias, Atelornis, Bernieria, Hartlaiibius, Artamia, Yanga, 

 Coua, Leptosomus, Vigorsia, Mesites, Biensis. 



The characteristic forms of African Ornithology are very nume- 



